Toll Scheme Approved For M4 Kinnegad-Enfield-Kilcock M"way

27^th November, 2001

Toll Scheme Approved for M4 Kinnegad-Enfield-Kilcock Motorway

The National Roads Authority at its November, 2001, meeting considered the Draft Toll Scheme for the M4 Kinnegad-Enfield-Kilcock Motorway.

The Motorway is one of eleven Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects identified by the the Authority as part of the overall strategy to deliver the national roads element of the National Development Plan (NDP), 2000-2006. The NDP sets a target to secure private sector finance of €1.27 billion (£1b) to supplement Exchequer and EU investment in the national roads programme, thereby increasing the scale of the programme and accelerating the commencement and completion of projects.

The tolling of PPP project roads provides a mechanism to recoup part of the private sector finance invested in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of new roads. These roads will be constructed to a high standard-motorway or high quality dual carriageway - providing road users with an enhanced level of service. Under the approach proposed by the Authority, toll roads will be constructed as additions to the current existing network of national roads thereby ensuring an alternative toll-free route.

The proposed 35 kilometre Motorway will run from the existing M4 Motorway at Kilcock in County Kildare to connect with the existing N4 and N6 west of Kinnegad in County Westmeath. It will also link with the local and existing road network through interchanges at Kilcock, Enfield and Kinnegad.

In considering the proposal for tolling the M4 Motorway, the Authority took account of the Inspector's report on the oral hearing into the Draft Toll Scheme and submissions from local authorities and the public. The Authority decided to adopt the Draft Scheme subject to the modification of the map accompanying the Draft so as to more clearly distinguish between the new Motorway section to be subject to tolls, other roads to be constructed as part of the overall project and the existing N4 and N6.

While noting that the existing N4/N6 will continue to operate as an alternative toll-free public road, the Authority resolved that the toll bye-laws to be made fixing the amount of the tolls to be charged will:

1. provide for a discount of at least 10 per cent in respect of the prevailing toll charge for pre-payment for 20 journeys to cater for frequent users of the tolled facility,and also
2. provide that, where road users exit the toll road having made a toll payment and within a short period, e.g. three hours, re-enter the toll road to continue on their journey in the same direction of travel, a second toll payment will not be required.

The estimated amounts of the tolls that it is proposed to charge in accordance with the adopted Toll Scheme are as follows:

* NB. The charges indicated are an estimate at 1^st August, 2000 prices.

For more information contact

Caroline O'Brien

01 6602511 Ext. 254

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